SELF DEFENCE experts are teaching National Assembly security staff how to deal with head-butts and groin attacks if visitors turn nasty.

Conflict Solutions, run by two South Wales policemen, has been brought in to help staff diffuse violent situations by reading body language and using calming words.

The Assembly has suffered two security alerts in the last six months, the latest happened this week when anti-war campaigners stormed the debating chamber.

The company's personal safety programme focuses on "how to safely breakaway from strangle holds and body locks" and deal with "biting, pinching, kicks, punches, head butts and groin attacks".

Force is seen as the last resort and is only taught if the client requires it.

Set up last year, the company is run by full-time Cardiff Pcs Vincent Donovan and Richard Marshall, who have 28 years of policing experience between them.

Vincent has dealt with public order offences, disputes and domestic arguments and specialises in personal safety and crime prevention advice.

Richard is responsible for training self-defence skills to all police officers and support staff in the city.

As well as the Assembly, their clients include private sector businesses, charities and public sector organisations, like Velindre Hospital in Cardiff and Breast Test Wales.

Vincent said: "One of our clients is the Assembly, where we are teaching self defence, how to confront violent and confrontational situations by using body language and using good communication skills.

"With communication, it means emphasising with an individual to diffuse the situation, to listen and to be prepared to resolve it."

Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas is asking officials to look again at measures put in place to protect members.

Procedures were changed after campaigners

Elis Thomas said: "We did look at things last year and made some changes, such as the positioning of security officers and police in the chamber. They were felt to have worked well this week.

"But in the light of the new incident, security will be looked at again."

During First Minister's questions plenary session on Tuesday, five protesters leapt over the barriers separating the public gallery from the debating chamber.

They shouted for a debate on war before being bundled out of the chamber by security guards and police.

Four men and one woman were cautioned by police but released without charge.